Synosia begins Ph II post-traumatic stress trial

Swiss firm Synosia Therapeutics has started a Phase IIa clinical trial with its dopamine b-hydroxylase inhibitor nepicastat (SYN-117) for the treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder.

The study is funded by the US Department of Defense and will be a prospective, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled evaluation in war veterans. The primary aim is to assess the efficacy and tolerability of nepicastat in the treatment of PTSD-induced hyperarousal, with the secondary objectives being assessing its ability to improve other symptoms of PTSD, induce remission and improve quality of life.

"We are delighted to be starting our Phase IIa clinical trials with nepicastat for the treatment of PTSD with three leading researchers in the field," said chief executive Ian Massey. "Nepicastat has recently been highlighted by the leading competitive intelligence group, Thomson Reuters, as one of the five most promising drugs across all therapeutic areas to enter Phase II clinical trials in the April - June period. This is certainly a positive endorsement for this promising new treatment," he added.